Munition dispenser



Dec. 2, 1969 J. G. SNYDER MUNITION DISPENSER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

Filed April 15, 1968 INVENTOR Jomv 6: SNYDER BY gIM/{fi A471 ATTORNEY Dec. 2, 1969 J. G. SNYDER MUNITION DISPENSER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 15, 1968 United States Patent 3,481,246 MUNITION DISPENSER John G. Snyder, Springfield, Va., assignor to The Susquehanna Corporation, Fairfax County, Va., a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 15, 1968, Ser. No. 721,261 Int. Cl. F41f /00 US. Cl. 891.5 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A munition dispenser comprising a launch tube for receiving a munition therewithin, a retention mechanism for retaining the munition within the launch tube, and a gas-generating cartridge within the launch tube for creating sufiicient pressure when ignited to overcome the force of the retention mechanism and to dispense the munition from the launch tube. The retention mechanism comprises a munition-engaging pawl member that is connected to a biasing spring by an over-center link in such manner that the spring serves to bias the pawl member to an open or to a closed position, depending on the position of the link. The gas-generating cartridge is removably mounted within the launch tube so that it can easily be replaced by a new gas cartridge after being ignited to launch a munition from the launch tube. A series of such munition dispensers may be removably mounted in any desired manner on the exterior portion of an aircraft or other vehicle for the purpose of selectively dispensing one or more munitions of the same or different types.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Heretofore, various types of dispensers or launchers have been utilized for the dispensing of munitions, such as grenades or flares. For the most part, however, the prior art dispensers have been subject to one or more of the following disadvantages: (1) they have not been reusable; (2) they have been specifically constructed and designed to dispense only one particular type of munition; (3) they have not been adjustable to vary the ejection velocity of the munition; (4) where a plurality of dispensers were incorporated into a single unit, a malfunction of one dispenser prevented the proper functioning of all of the other dispensers; and (5) they were not capable of being removably mounted on the exterior portion of an aircraft or other vehicle. The munition dispenser of the present invention is not subject to any of the aforementioned disadvantages and, additionally, incorporates other advantages not present in prior art dispensers or launchers.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a reusable munition dispenser which is safe and reliable in operation.

An additional object is to provide such a reusable dispenser utilizing an easily replaceable gas cartridge for rapidly generating a sufiicient gas pressure to eject the munition.

Another object is the provision of such a dispenser which is so constructed and arranged as to be adjustable to vary the ejection velocity of the munition.

A further object is to provide such a dispenser which can be utilized to dispense various types of munitions.

Still another object is the provision of such a dispenser which can easily be incorporated into a multiple dispenser assembly containing any suitable number of dispensers in any suitable configuration or alignment,

Still another object is the provision of such a multiple dispenser assembly wherein the dispensers are independ- 3,481,246 Patented Dec. 2, 1969 entl'y operable such that the operability of one dispenser is not dependent on the operability of other dispensers.

A still further object is to provide such a multiple dispenser assembly which can be easily removably mounted on any exterior portion of an aircraft or other vehicle and easily jettisoned therefrom.

An additional object is to provide such a multiple dispenser assembly which can be remotely controlled to operate one or more of the dispensers simultaneously or in succession.

Another object is the provision of a munition dispenser which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, easy to assemble and disassemble, and comprises a minimum of moving parts.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

The above objects are accomplished by providing a munition dispenser comprising a launch tube in which a munition is adapted to be slidably mounted, and a retention mechanism mounted on the launch tube for engagement with the outer end of the munition to retain it within the launch tube. The retention mechanism comprises an elongated housing secured to the launch tube and having a pawl member pivotally mounted on the lower end thereof and adapted to engage the outer end of the munition when in a closed position. A link is pivotally attached at one end to the pawl member and at the other end to one end of a helical coil spring which is disposed within the housing and attached at its other end to the upper portion of the housing. Since the pawl member and the link provide an over-center linkage, the spring serves to bias the pawl member to a closed position in engagement with the munition or to an open position wherein it is out of blocking relation to the munition, depending on the position of the link.

A gas-generating cartridge is threadably or otherwise removably attached to the inner end of the launch tube and is adapted to be electrically ignited in any suitable manner. The gas cartridge contains a composition for rapidly generating a high gas pressure within the launch tube that is suflicient to move the munition outwardly against the force of the retention mechanism spring and linkage. During the outward movement of the munition, the pawl member is moved to a partially open position wherein, because of the over-center linkage, the spring serves to bias the pawl member to a fully open position completely out of blocking relation to the munition. The dispenser may thereafter be conveniently reused by replacing the gas-generating cartridge with a new one, inserting a munition in the dispenser, and moving the pawl member to a closed position in engagement with the outer end of the new munition.

A plurality of such dispensers may be incorporated in any suitable manner or configuration in a multiple dispenser assembly that is removably mountable on the exterior portion of an aircraft or other vehicle and jettisonable therefrom.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of a munition dispenser constructed according to the principles of the present invention, with parts shown in section and parts broken away, showing the dispenser with a munition disposed therein and with the retention mechanism in a closed position;

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view similar to FIGURE 1 showing a munition as it is leaving the launch tube of the dispenser, with the retention mechanism in the fully open position;

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view showing thepawl member, link and spring of the retention mechanism in a closed position;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a multiple dispenser assembly or system removably mounted on the exterior portion of an aircraft or other vehicle; and

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged sectional view of an assembly for releasing or jettisoning the multiple dispenser system disclosed in FIGURE 4 from the exterior aircraft portion.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As a preferred or exemplary embodiment of the present invention, FIGURE 1 illustrates a dispenser for any suitable or desired type of munition such as a grenade 12. The dispenser 10 comprises an elongated launch tube 14 having an interior cross section complementary with that of the munition to be dispensed. In the case of the cylindrical grenade 12, the launch tube 14 is in the form of a cylinder having an inner diameter of sufiicient size as to enable the end portions 16 of the grenade to be slidably received therein.

When a munition such as the grenade 12 is to be launched from the dispenser 10, the launch tube 14 is provided with a longitudinally extending channel 18 on the inner surface thereof for receiving an arming lever 20 that is pivotally mounted on one end of the grenade 12. A firing pin 22 prevents the arming lever 20 from moving to the arm position shown in FIGURE 2. The firing pin 22 is provided with a pull ring 24 for facilitating removal thereof. Suitable means (not shown) are provided on the grenade 12 for biasing the lever 20 to the arm position of FIGURE 2. It is noted that the specific construction of the grenade 12 forms no part of the instant invention and is described herein only for the purpose of clarifying the disclosure of the preferred embodiment of the dispenser 10.

An elongated housing 26 is secured to or formed integrally with one side of the launch tube 14. A helical coil spring 28 is disposed within the housing 26 and has the upper end thereof (not shown) removably secured to the housing in any suitable manner. The lower end of the spring 28 is provided with a hook portion 30 that extends through an aperture 32 in the upper end of a curved link 34 in a manner to allow the link 34 to pivot with respect to the spring 28. The" link 34 is partially disposed within the housing 26 and movable through a longitudinally extending slot 36 in the lower portion of the housing. The lower end of the link 34 is pivotally secured at 38 to a pawl member 40 that is, in turn, pivotally mounted on the lower portion of the housing 26 by a pin 42 (see FIG- URE 3).

The coil spring 28 exerts a downward force on the upper end of the link 34 which serves to bias the pawl member 40 to the closed position shown in FIGURE 1 or to the open position shown in FIGURE 2, depending on the position of the link 34 or, more specifically, the position of the pivotal connection 38 between the link 34 and the pawl member. If the pivotal connection 38 is disposed over center in an inward direction (to the left as shown in FIGURE 1) with respect to the spring-link pivotal connection 30, 32, the spring 28 will urge the pawl member 40 to the closed position shown in FIGURE 1, wherein its flat forward face 44 is in engagement with the outer end 16 of the munition 12 disposed in the launch tube 14. If, on the other hand, the pivotal connection 38 is disposed over center" in an outward direction (to the right as seen in FIGURE 2) with respect to the springlink connection 30, 32, the spring 28 serves to move and maintain the pawl member 40 in the open position shown in FIGURE 2, where its forward face 44 is completely out of blocking relation to the outer end of the munition 12. An elongated slot 46 is provided in the pawl member 40 for the purpose of enabling a screw driver or similar tool to be inserted therein to facilitate the movement of the pawl member from the open position shown in FIGURE 2 to the closed position shown in FIGURE 1 against the force of the spring 28.

The upper or inner end of the launch tube 14 is provided with a recessed portion 48 of reduced diameter in which a gas-generating cartridge 50 is disposed. The cartridge Stl is removably mounted on the inner end of the launch tube 14 in any suitable manner such as by a threaded connection 52, and is adapted to be electrically connected in any suitable manner to a Wire 54 that is in turn connected to an electrical power source (not shown) of any desired or conventional type.

The cartridge 50 may be of any suitable or conventional construction and comprises or is connected to a conventional, electrically actuated igniter (not shown) for the purpose of igniting an ignition and a gas-generating charge within the cartridge 50 which may be of any suitable composition or compositions. The gas-generating charge preferably is of the type that will rapidly create a high gas pressure. An inorganic metal-oxidant composition may be used for both the ignition and gas-generating charges.

In the general operation of the dispenser 10, a grenade 12 is inserted within the launch tube 14 when the pawl member 40 is in the open position as shown in FIGURE 2. At such time, the safety pin 22 prevents the grenade lever 20 from moving to the arm position, and the lever is accommodated in the launch tube 14 by the longitudinal channel 18. After the grenade 12 is fully inserted within the launch tube 14, the pawl member 40 is manually moved to the closed position shown in FIGURE 1 by a screw driver or other suitable tool inserted in the slot 46, wherein the spring 28 serves to bias the forward face 44 of the pawl member 40 into engagement with the outer end 16 of the grenade 12 to prevent it from leaving the launch tube 14.

When it is desired to use the dispenser 10, the safety pin 12 is manually removed from the grenade by the pull ring 24 to enable the lever 20 to be moved to the arm position when the grenade is ejected from the dispenser. When it is desired to launch the grenade 12, electrical current is passed through the Wire 54 to electrically actuate the igniter (not shown) which in turn serves to ignite the ignition and gas-generating compositions in the cartridge 50. The ignition of the gas-generating composition serves to rapidly build up a high gas pressure in the chamber 48 of the launch tube 14, which moves the grenade 12 out of the launch tube against the force of the spring 28 urging the pawl member 40 to the closed position. As the outwardly moving grenade 12 pivots the pawl member 40' toward an open position, the pivotal connection 38 between the pawl member 40 and the link 34 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction (as seen in FIGURES 1 and 2). When the pivotal connection 38 is moved over center in the outward direction (to the right as seen in FIGURE 2) with respect to the spring-link connection 30, 32 the spring 28 then serves to urge and maintain the pawl member 40 in the fully open position shown in FIGURE 2 wherein it is completely out of blocking relation to the grenade 12. The grenade 12 is thereafter fully expelled from the launch tube 14 by the gas pressure generated by the ignition of the composition within the cartridge 50. As the grenade 12 leaves the launch tube 14, its arming lever 20 is moved to the arm position shown in FIGURE 2, thereby enabling the grenade to be detonated in response to a predetermined condition, for example, inertia or time.

It is noted that the launch tube 14 and its engagement with the munition therein, such as grenade 12, need not be gas tight, since the gas-generating composition in the cartridge 50 rapidly generates a sufiiciently high pressure to rapidly expel the grenade from the launch tube and force it against the pawl member 40 to enable the latter to be moved to the open position by the spring 28 before an appreciable amount of gas leakage occurs. Therefore,

the launch tube 14 may be fabricated in any conventional manner, without the necessity of incorporating sealing rings or pistons therein.

After the grenade 12 has been launched from the launch tube 14, the expended gas cartridge 50 may be easily removed from the inner end of the launch tube and replaced by a new cartridge to enable the dispenser to be reused for the launching of another grenade. In view of the simple construction of the instant dispenser 10, it may be utilized for dispensing any suitable type of munition other than the grenade 12, by making minor variations in the size or configuration of the launch tube 14 or pawl member 40. Furthermore, the ejection velocity of a munition from the instant dispenser 10 may be conveniently varied by varying the gas-generating composition in the cartridge 50 or by varying the strength of the spring 28 or the geometry of the link 34 and pawl member 40.

While in FIGURES 1 and 2 the dispenser 10 is facing downwardly for a gravity-aided launch of the grenade 12, it is noted that the dispenser 10 may be oriented in any position to dispense munitions therefrom within the spirit and scope of the instant invention.

As shown in FIGURE 4, a plurality of the dispensers 10 0f the instant invention may be mounted in any suitable manner and in any suitable configuration on the exterior portion of an aircraft or other vehicle. In the illustrated embodiment, a plurality of the dispensers 10 are secured at their upper ends to an elongated support rack 60 in any suitable manner, such as by screws 62 (see FIGURES 1 and 2). The support rack 60 is removably attached to a pair of flexible strap 64 by electrically actuated separation assemblies 66. The straps 64 may be secured on any desired exterior portion or store of an aircraft or other vehicle, such as a rocket pod68 carried by a helicopter or the like.

An elongated cover 70 is mounted on the upper portion of the support rack 60 for the purpose of enclosing the electrical leads from each of the dispensers 10 to a central control box or adapter module 72 which is electrically connected to a dispenser control panel (not shown) within the cockpit of the aircraft for remote selective actuation of one or more of the dispensers 10 mounted on the support rack 60, either simultaneously or successively. A fairing 74 is secured to the support rack 60 and extends over the outer portions of the dispensers 10.

In the multiple dispenser assembly shown, in FIGURE 4, the dispensers 10 all face downwardly for gravityaided dispensing of the grenades 12 therein. To facilitate in the removal of the safety pins from the grenades 12 prior to take-off of the aircraft on which the multiple dispenser assembly is mounted, a cable 76 is secured to each of the safety pin pull rings to allow substantially simultaneous removal of the safety pins. In practice, the grenades 12 in the multiple dispenser assembly shown in FIGURE 4 may be of various types, such as smoke-producing, incendiary, or antipersonnel. With the instant assembly, it is possible to select one or more of a certain type of grenade for expulsion from the dispensers 10 by remote selection from the cockpit of the aircraft. Since each dispenser 10' is independently operable by an electric current, a malfunction of one dispenser will not affect the proper functioning of the other dispensers in the assembly.

In the case of an emergency, the multiple dispenser assembly can easily be jettisoned from the exterior aircraft portion 68 by remote actuation of a switch in the cockpit which serves to close a circuit to each of the separation or release assemblies 66. As shown in FIG- URE 5, each separation assembly 66 comprises an explosively shearable bolt 78 that extends through and engages a bracket 80 secured to the flexible straps 64 in any suitable or conventional manner. The bolt 78 extends through a sleeve member 82 that is threadably mounted within an aperture in the support rack 60 for the dispensers 10 and is secured to the sleeve member 82 by a nut 84. The bolt 78 is provided with a weakened mid portion 86 that is explosively sheared when an electric current is passed through the bolt by the wire 88. A helical coil spring 90 is disposed within the sleeve member 82 in surrounding relation to the bolt 78 and engages the lower portion of the sleeve member 82 at one end thereof and the bracket of the other end thereof.

When it is desired to jettison the multiple dispenser assembly, an electric current is passed through the wire 88 to the bolt 78 of each release assembly 66. This serves to explosively shear each bolt 78 at its weakened portion 86 and enables the coil spring 90 of each release assembly to effect rapid separation of the flexible strap brackets 80 and the support rack 60 for the dispensers 10. It is noted that the release assemblies 66 disclosed herein are merely illustrative of one workable system for jettisoning the multiple dispenser assembly, and that there are many other release assemblies that can accomplish the same purpose in such a system. Therefore the disclosure herein of the release assembly 66 is not intended to limit the scope of the instant invention.

The components of the instant dispenser 10 and the multiple dispenser assembly disclosed herein may be formed of any suitable materials without departing from the scope of this invention.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. A munition dispenser, comprising:

a launch tube adapted to receive a munition therein,

an elongated housing mounted on the exterior of said launch tube and having a longitudinal axis that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axi of said launch tube,

pawl member pivotally mounted on said housing adjacent the open end of said launch tube for movement between a closed position wherein it is adapted to retain a munition within said launch tube and an open position wherein it is disposed out of blocking relation to a munition in said launch tube,

a link pivotally connected at one end to said pawl member, a coil spring disposed within and secured at one end to said housing and being pivotally connected at the other end thereof to the other end of said link, said spring serving to urge said pawl member toward said closed position when said one end of said link is positioned inwardly of the pivotal mounting of said pawl member on said housing and serving to urge said pawl member toward said open position when said one end of said link is positioned outwardly of the pivotal mounting of said pawl member on said housing, and means within said launch tube for rapidly ejecting a munition from said launch tube to move said pawl member away from said closed position and toward said open position against the force of said spring. 2. The munition dispenser of claim 1 wherein said ejecting means comprises a cartridge removable mounted on the inner end of said launch tube and containing an ignitable composition therein for rapidly generating a high gas pressure within said launch tube.

(References on following page) 7 8 References Cited 2,930,288 3/1960 Jonah 89-].817 3,403,624 10/1968 Fosler et 211. 421

UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/ 1940 Briggs SAMUEL W. ENGLE, Primary Examiner 9/1954 Darnall et a1. 1027.2

12/1957 Burrows 891 5 US. Cl. X.R.

4/1958 Smoot et a1. 89-1.806 

